ANNUAL REPORT 2010 2011

ANNUAL REPORT
2010 / 2011
Chair’s Message 2010-2011
It has been an exciting year for Alberta’s Peace Country from explorations and discussions
on new mining development opportunities to the creation of the Cultural Industry Coalition
and its support for young people in music, film and the arts!
Peace Region Economic Development Alliance continues its winning formula: that being
through identifying and partnering with clients on advancing their new ideas into business
development opportunities, PREDA is helping to grow the Peace Country’s economy. Being
a client driven organization, PREDA works well in responding to meeting client and
community needs.
More so this year than in past years, PREDA members are getting more engaged in projects.
With the recent changes in funding and resources, PREDA will rely on its members to be
more engaged, continue to demonstrate strong leadership skills and expand their contacts into broader networks to better
leverage membership dollars on new projects. An excellent example of a broader network is PREDA’s interest in reaching
out to business and industry with an invitation for their participation in regional economic development strategies and
initiatives in the Peace.
I encourage PREDA members and municipalities to be vocal about ensuring their communities and the region have access
to adequate resources to do economic development. Peace Country municipalities and the provincial government have
had an excellent relationship in partnering and sharing the responsibility of growing the region. I hope that relationship
will be strengthened in the future by the provincial government acknowledging that regional economic development is a
shared responsibility between itself and Alberta municipalities.
PREDA members and partners can loudly celebrate a rewarding year of initiating a wide array of projects in partnership
with the Cultural Industry Coalition, Centre for Research & Innovation and Peace Region Rural Manufacturers Association.
Members make PREDA the strong organization it is. As members talk with their colleagues and business community
contacts, new ideas for business retention, growth and investment become agenda items for PREDA to respond to. PREDA
is fortunate to have committed partners in our chambers of commerce, Community Futures Peace Country & Grande
Prairie organizations, Alberta ministries of Finance & Enterprise, Employment & Immigration, and Agriculture & Rural
Development, just to name a few.
Our members have talented economic development officers across the region that provide input and resources on
regional projects, which in turn have direct benefits back to their communities.
PREDA is an effective regional economic development alliance. Our future is bright and our achievements will be
meaningful and rewarding.
Yours truly,
Elaine Garrow
Chair
If you would like additional copies of this report, read it online at www.peacecountrycanada.com or contact PREDA at
780.833.1035 or preda@peacecountrycanada.com
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Chair Elaine Garrow
Vice Chair Ray Skrepnek
Secretary-Treasurer Mary Ann Eckstrom
Directors Ron Longtin
Evens Lavoie
Tom Tarpey
From top, left to right: Tom Tarpey, Ray Skrepnek, Ron Longtin, Evens Lavoie,
Elaine Garrow, Mary Ann Eckstrom
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Annual Operations Plan 2010-2011 Achievements
INITIATIVE 1
Information Sharing on Emerging Economic Development Ideas
PREDA achieved the goals of this initiative as demonstrated by its support and
participation in the following learning events and initiatives. Outputs included final
reports with recommendations for future action and sponsorship recognition for
PREDA’s involvement. By participating in the events, PREDA members obtained new
insights and working knowledge on key industry developments and trends.
PREDA is recognized as an active partner in supporting learning events which in turn
strengthen cooperation and collaboration with business development stakeholders in
the Peace Country.
Cultural Cultural Industry Coalition in the Peace Country
Industry
Development
Assisted in supporting and managing this initiative
to advance cultural activities like music, art, film
and video as business industry opportunities in the region. Steering Committee and
the Coalition accessed PREDA’s project management resources. Cultural Industry
Development was recognized as one of the region’s new growth opportunities. Its key
strategic directions are: to gather cultural groups to share information and network
with one another; to explore opportunities for meaningful partnership and
collaboration so that synergy may occur; and to provide the community with an
avenue for communicating with those involved with cultural industries throughout the
Peace Region.
Business Connecting with Business on Regional Economic Development
Engagement
Research was completed and report presented to PREDA members by Pinnacle
Communications (sponsored by AFE under REDAs Next Generation Initiative). Project
activities included: reviewing PREDA communications materials; conducting
telephone surveys of businesses across the region; and providing recommendations to
improve future communications and relationships with business. Implementation will
be done in Phase Two in 2011-2012.
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Value-added
& Marketing Adding Value to the Agri-Food Value Chain
Initiatives in
Supported Community Futures Grande Prairie & Region to assist producers further
Agriculture develop their products by: identifying unused potential, for example, identifying new
products that could fill a recently identified or underserviced market and/or
identifying excess products in the region that could be put to use to fill an identified
or underserviced market; accessing new industry and market opportunities; and
connecting them to professionals such as innovators, innovation officers, marketers,
who have ideas of how to improve, add value and/or change existing products to
apply to an expanded or high-price point market and marketplace and give direction
of commercialization.
Think Local Markets
Assisted economic development officers in Northern Alberta to develop and obtain
funding to create a support system for local entrepreneurs looking to reach wider
markets without the encombrances of increased staffing requirements and franchise
regulations. Many communities are pushing the concept of shopping local to the
forefront of their marketing strategy. The Think Local Market coincides with the basic
ideology of supporting local entrepreneurs by encouraging residents to shop locally.
This strategy goes beyond a marketing tool: it creates an online store front for local
entrepreneurs. Deliverables in 2011-2012.
NARPA Direct Seeding Session
Assisted with funding to the North Peace Applied Research Association (NPARA) to
offer and deliver new concepts and products on crops (142 people attended).
Welcoming
Communities www.PeaceCountryCanada.com Attracting Labor and Investment
Completed a major update to the web-site to meet the needs of individuals looking
for intelligence on the region as a workplace of choice. Researched, created and
presented more targeted and responsive content on attracting and retaining
newcomers. A future deliverable of this partnership with AEI will be a more
cooperative and collaborative working relationship among community and business
leaders to share their plans and initiatives on attracting newcomers.
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Community
Economic Growing the North
Development Assisted with funding and participated
Conferences in Growing the North Conference:
designed to stimulate new ideas and
ventures in Alberta’s northern economy.
A joint venture between Farm Credit
Canada (FCC), the County of Grande Prairie, Alberta Finance & Enterprise (Northern
Alberta Development Council and the Grande Prairie Chamber of Commerce. About
300 attendees attended and heard information on the following topics: northern
transportation & exporting issues; global economics & political trends that influence
future developments in the north; current climate of northern business sectors; and
new developments in technology.
Marketing &
Selling Accelerate Your Business
Workshop
PREDA and CRI co-hosted a marketing
best practices workshop with Donald Cooper.
Over 80 business leaders and economic
development persons attended the two day
event (session ratings were excellent).
Renewable
Renewable Energy Toolkit for Economic Development
Energy
Toolkit for PREDA hosted and participated in an information session to showcase a new toolkit
for municipal and business leaders on economic development opportunities in the
Economic
field of renewable energy. The session was attended by 20 municipal leaders with
Development
video feeds to Community Futures Peace Country and GPRC Fairview Campus. A
handbook was provided to participants and the region’s economic development
officers. Participants learned how the Toolkit can be used for: evolving technologies
and applications; a community’s potential to attract new investment in this area;
evaluating your advantages; and whether projects are well suited for their
community.
Business Women in the North Conference
Development
Conference PREDA supported Community Futures
Peace River and partners (Community
Futures Grande Prairie, Alberta Women
Entrepreneurs, and Alberta Agriculture
& Rural Development) in holding this
successful conference (attended by 73 people who rated the event 3.33 out of 4).
Topics focused on: knowledge and skill sets of business development; rural
diversification; and value-added opportunities.
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Natural Gas
Natural Gas Industry: Impacts, Challenges and Opportunities
Industry
Workshop Assisted Grande Prairie Chamber of Commerce and Alberta Finance & Enterprise in
this workshop attended by over 100 business and municipal leaders. In recent years,
fundamental changes in the North American natural gas market have dramatically
impacted Alberta’s natural gas industry, particularly the service sector. The Grande
Prairie region is comprised of one of the most significant natural gas service hubs in
Alberta and has been impacted by the dynamic changes that are occurring within the
industry. Session topics included: status of existing markets and impacts on
production in the region; challenges and emerging technologies impacting
competitiveness and sustainability of industry in the region; and emerging
opportunities.
Economic Economic Trends
Trends for
Strategic Hosted Todd Hirsch, Senior Economist ATB Financial (82 persons attended). Over
Planning the past 4 months, there is a feeling that our economy is changing again: after 3 years
of decline and bottoming-out, we can see examples of resumption in growth in a
number of industry sectors. Are we are a path of recovery? If yes, to what level?
Back to an over-heated economy or to a sustainable level? The change maybe so
gradual and subtle - we may not feel it - leaving us to believe that we are still in a
negative economy, when in fact there are opportunities for business growth to be
capitalize on. Presentation material and insights incorporated into future planning
and PREDA operations.
Industrial Spot the Energy Savings
Energy
Efficiency PREDA under its Productivity Initiatives co-hosted with Productivity Alberta sessions
Workshops on: the latest energy efficiency programs and services available to companies; the
potential ROI for the adoption of energy efficiency leading practices; and finding fast
and easy savings opportunities in existing system such as lighting, motors, pumps,
fans, boilers, heating, cooling and compressed air. Attended by 26 people and 18
companies.
Alternative Energy Workshop – SARDA
Supported the Peace Region Agricultural Research Associations AESA technicians
(SARDA, PARDA. NPARA, PCBFA and County of GP) to host workshops in Manning
and Valleyview.
The objective was to help agricultural residents understand the basic language of
energy sources and provide contacts for further information (61 people attended).
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Community CEDTP
Economic (Community Economic Development Training Program)
Development
Training
Assisted Community Futures Peace River (and their partners CRI and AEI) with
funding and promotions to provide community economic development training to
municipal leaders and economic development officers in the region. Seven sessions
were delivered to 97 persons.
Peace Region
Music Peace Region Music Industry
Industry Conference
Development
PREDA assisted Crawford & Balyone
No Limitz Music and stakeholders
with delivering a music industry
development conference in Peace
River targeting young people with interests in publishing and recording music (35
songwriters participated and recorded songs – demo tape produced). About 175
attend the concert showcase. Special session hosted for parents to help understand
their children should and could get into the business (business models were
demonstrated). Songwriters Association of Canada participated (publishing and
licensing agreements). Two artists have had their songs recorded.
Film
The Reel Shorts Film Festival
Industry
Development PREDA funded the 4th annual
Reel Shorts Film Festival April
2010. It offered the following:
18 screenings of 14 different film
packages to school groups and
the public; 3 two-and-a-half-day
Youth Filmmaking Challenge workshops; class visits by Alyssa McClelland, the
Writer/Director/Co-Star of Emilia Eckle, a PG-rated comedy. Overall attendance was
1,390, an increase of 53% from attendance of 909 in 2009. About 750 people
attended screenings, an increase of 34% from 2009. About 600 students and
teachers from 15 schools as well as members of the public attended school program
screenings, an increase of 89% from 2009. Forty-seven students attended the 3 two-
and-a-half-day Youth Filmmaking Challenge workshops, an increase of 31% from
2009.
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INITIATIVE 2 Pre-feasibility Business Cases
A major component of PREDA’s economic development growth strategy focuses on
identifying and facilitating the advancement of new industry ideas and opportunities
in the Peace Country. PREDA has partnered with regional entrepreneurs and
community economic development groups having the ability and resources to
champion and act on with their new industry and development opportunities. The
proposed projects must demonstrate a regional competitive advantage, local
investment potential and value-added potential or leading edge concepts. PREDA
targeted to undertake and complete up to seven pre-feasibility business cases on new
industry opportunities in partnership with entrepreneurs. Each case included
recommendations to advance implementation of the idea towards the potential
commercialization of new products and/or services, new construction and/or
increased investment in the region.
Rural Peace Region Rural Manufacturers Association (PeRMA)
Manufacturers
Network Partnering with Centre for Research & Innovation, PREDA accessed funding from
Alberta Agriculture & Rural Development’s ‘Rural Community Adaptation Program
Grant’ to initiate and facilitate the forming and resourcing of the Peace Region
Manufacturers Association (PeRMA) - a working group whose goal is to help the
manufacturing industry in the Peace Country. The idea stemmed from a PREDA
survey of 20 fabricators in the region. The study found a lack an industry sector
under stress with little cohesiveness among the various companies to impact change
such as bidding on large scale projects in the region. Deliverables included
membership of 45 companies, a learning group of 5 companies, newsletters,
promotional brochure on products & services and a PeRMA Strategy. Website is
www.peaceregionmfrassn.ca. This initiative is operational into 2011-2012.
Pennycress Building a Business Case for Pennycress Crop as a Feedstock for Bio-fuels
Bio-Fuel
Opportunities
Lesser Slave Lake Economic Alliance and PREDA in collaboration with Alberta
Agriculture & Rural Development, All Peace Industries and Olds College are laying the
foundation for the cultivation, processing and commercialization of pennycress as a
crop to produce biodiesel & bio-fuels. Agriculture is expanding beyond the
traditional food and fibre production to include energy, bio-fuels, biomaterials and
chemicals. This means new uses of existing crops or new crops have to be discovered
and brought into cultivation to meet demands. Pennycress is a low input field crop
with 30% oil that makes superb biodiesel. Pennycress by-products are a good source
of organic fertilizer and natural herbicide. Two years of field and crop tests have
been completed. This project is continuing into 2011-2012.
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Market Small Forestry Mills (Industry Cluster for Market Development)
Development Using the forestry expertise of Peace River’s Berry Heinen, PREDA worked with a
Opportunities number of small mills in the northwest Alberta to develop and submit a project
for Small proposal for wood products market development to Alberta Employment &
Forestry Immigration’s Canada Development Trust funds. The proposal was successful in
Mills accessing $200,000 to hire FPInnovations to explore new opportunities.
Three projects where identified as follows:
1. Environmental Certification – What is the best program for these mills to pursue
and can resources be accessed through the CDT Grant Program to assist
companies in preparing for certification audits?
2. Market Research and Business to Business Development – Are their opportunities
in the market place that can be pursued to diversify sawmills from the North
American Commodity Markets? Can a Peace Brand be developed, can Niche
Markets be found, and can business to business relationships develop?
3. Natural Gas Fired Electricity Production – Can local gas wells be purchased and
directly coupled to on site sawmill power production? Would this idea prove to
be an energy cost reduction strategy?
Market Implementation Strategies are to be completed in 2011-2012.
Carbon Carbon-Capture Algae Pilot Project
Dioxide
PREDA provided resources to Grande Prairie Regional College to pursue a new
Algae Project
concept to capture carbon dioxide and other air pollutents in a controlled algae
solution. Positive results from supporting the first year tests helped Dr. Tan, GRPC
and CRi receive Federal funding from Natural Science and Engineering Research
Council (NSERC) in the amount of $2.3 Million. This initiative, entitled Pollutants to
Products (P2P) is among those selected for funding following a nation-wide peer-
reviewed competition. The College, and its industry partners and stakeholders are
investing an additional $1.5 million to the projects. P2P includes three projects: one
project studies carbon and pollutants capture by microalgae supported by PREDA;
another investigates enhancement of reforestation and carbon sequestration; and the
other, diverts wastewater from waterways to a poplar industrial fibre production.
Commercialization Plan being developed over the next two years.
From l to r: Dr Weixing Tan, Jim Letersky, Bruce Wallace, Chris Laue, Bob Hall
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Unmanned Develop an Unmanned Vehicle Systems Strategy to parallel and support the
Vehicle Canadian Centre for Unmanned Vehicle Systems and Explore Industry
Systems Applications in Northern and Rural Environments.
PREDA explored the potential of building a
framework to support the development of an
Unmanned Vehicle Industry Cluster in the Peace.
PREDA partnered with Canadian Centre for
Unmanned Vehicle Systems (CCUVS).
On December 17, PREDA hosted Dewar
Donnithorne-Tait Executive Director CCUVS
Medicine Hat to learn about CCUVS, UVS equipment
& applications, and regional opportunities.
Approximately 30 people attended representing
business and municipal interests. The Information Session in Fairview included
discussions about: regional assets and resources; Provincial and National strategies;
and our next steps in the region. Other activities included: operational training for
operators and end-users to build the expertise in the Region; participating in the
provincial initiative to develop a training model for UVS industry development;
developing a new industry cluster in the region.
Work on this initiative is carried over into 2011-2012 with testing facilities and
administration services being provided in Fairview. A proposal for UVS application
on emergency services is being drafted.
Labor Industry Representatives Leading Labor Market Discussions
Market
Development PREDA partnered with Grande Prairie Chamber of Commerce and the Peace River
Human Resource Association to investigate the opportunities for the business
communities and industry representatives to lead the discussion and implementation
of labour market development strategies and initiatives. There was keen interest
from the organizations viewpoint but limit commitment from the industry to provide
ongoing engagement of the initiative: industry representatives appeared to be more
interested and available for ‘one-time’ consultation. The downturn in the economy
and the increase in available labour, meant labour issues were no longer paramount
to industry.
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Rail Freight Rail Freight Service Review
Transportation
PREDA sent a submission to Transport Canada (April 2010) to take advantage of the
federal government’s establishment of a review panel to address rail freight
transportation issues and opportunities impacting communities. The report
summarizes how the historical, current and future vitality of Peace Country is
dependent on a mutually beneficial relationship with our rail service provider and
how, for the most part, that relationship has not been open or purposeful to building
improved transportation services to our companies and the region. Peace Country
businesses depend on competitive transportation options and good service. Our
future industrial development opportunities will demand an appropriate level of rail
service as an important component or factor in site location decisions. Surveyed
shippers in the region to prepare the initial submission to Transport Canada and
provide reaction to the Interim Report.
PREDA’s reaction to the Transport Canada’s Interim Report was that the report
recommendations:
1) are primarily commercial solutions with uncertain discretionary accountability
left to the rail companies;
2) appear to be speaking to ‘big-business shippers on railroad main-lines’ and not to
independent and smaller shippers on branch lines; and
3) Have merit but limited value until implemented by the rail companies and
validated by collaborative improvement plans for each customer.
Peace Country shippers, producers and communities decided not to wait the ‘three
years’ and instead planned to create a Peace Country Shippers Association (this is on-
hold pending reaction to CN’s current discussions with regional shippers).
PREDA continues to support the concept development of a Multi-Modal Logistics
Park in the County of Grande Prairie (AFE Industry Development and NADC are
providing assistance on the project).
Training Preclinical Networked Medical Education
Medical
Professionals PREDA has been supporting the Grande Prairie Chamber of Commerce on a series of
in the North discussions and initiatives to obtain training for medical students in rural
communities. This year an additional initiative was added to support the University
of Alberta’s as they have selected Grande Prairie and Peace River to host a 1-month
pilot project to support training medical students in rural communities. The pilot
project involved a total of 24 students who lived and studied in rural areas. The
overall objective of the project was to increase the number of family physicians
choosing to practice in rural areas. Other provinces have found that the more a
medical student studies in a rural setting, the more likely a choice to practice
medicine in a rural setting. This is good news to PREDA which has been a long-term
supporter of initiatives that attract physicians to the Peace Country.
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Tourism Regional Dinosaur Tourism Product Development
Product
Development Assisted and funded a range of initiatives to explore, promote and offer dinosaur
educational programs & services in the Peace Country under the leadership of the
County of Grande Prairie. Major outcomes have been the progress of the Phillip J.
Currie Dinosaur Museum proposal, the Pipestone Creek Bone-Bed site (access and
services) and a host of education programs to youth. The project is continuing into
2011-2012 with PREDA’s interests being a northwest Alberta and provincial
dinosaur tourism trail.
Green Greening of the Peace Study
Industry
Development PREDA through the Centre for Research and Innovation and GPRC initiated a project
Opportunities to better understand how prepared Peace firms are to take advantage of the shift in
society preferences for more environmentally friendly goods and services. There is
growing expectation on the part of consumers that a firm will offer products which
are environmentally responsible and manufacture products/conduct business in an
environmentally responsible way. Based on willingness of industry to engage ‘green
principles and practices’, the next step will be explore new industry opportunities.
Peace Oil
Buyer-Seller Learning Events for Bidding on Contracts
Sands Buyer-
Seller Forum
PREDA assisted the lead team representing the Town of Peace River, Northern
Sunrise County and Community Futures Peace River to develop a strategy to explore
investment opportunities and business development opportunities stemming from
the resources of the Peace Oil Sands. The team designed an action plan with the
primary focus on a buyer-seller forum and workshops to understand how the
industry works and how to bid on contracts. Engaged AFE Industry Development
team to assist as needed.
Productivity Productivity Phase Two – Network Building and Awareness
With the assistance of Productivity Alberta, PREDA hired Janet Plante as their
regional Productivity Liaison Officer to meet with business leaders to explore
opportunities to become engaged in productivity best practices (over 90 meetings).
Several partnerships were implemented, such as an Industry Network within Peace
Region Manufactures Association (PeRMA). Industry was engaged through
workshops and activities sponsored by Productivity Alberta. Eleven formal
presentations were made to over 180 people. The message and continuing theme in
all of the presentations was; what is Productivity? Why should we be concerned? And
what is available to help us and make this useful, such as introduction to Productivity
Alberta.
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Innovation Innovation Services
Services
PREDA continue its commitment and acknowledge to the importance of innovation to
the future growth of Peace Country industries and new business ventures.
PREDA assisted by the continuation of CRI’s storefront presence at the Centre 2000 in
Grande Prairie. The Centre provided delivery services across the region through its
resource team, innovation ambassadors and the region’s economic development
officer network. CRI representatives spoke at 5 provincial events and numerous
regional events and workshops showcasing the CRI model and our innovation
success stories. Centre for Research celebrated the amazing achievements of Peace
Country Innovators: included Lifetime Achievement Awards for Innovation and
2010 Innovation Voucher recipients. Almost 100 business leaders participated in the
celebration. CRI and PREDA co-hosted the Alberta Inventor’s Workshop with lunch
Keynote Speaker World Renowned Innovator/Aviator Dick Rutan with about 65
persons attending.
In 2010-2011, CRI’s resource team worked
with: 42clients on intellectual property
questions, such as patents; 27 clients with
questions product and market
development; 65 general inquiries
requiring path-finding services on
problem-solving; and over 160 workshop
participants. CRI produced 4 newsletters
that showcased their activities and events in the region (sample newsletter is
attached).
The RADF did a showcase publication on CRI to illustrate rural innovation ideas and
initiatives (hardcopy attached). CRI’s Applied Research unit in GPRC had huge
successes this past year including the initiatives on the Beaverlodge Research Station,
National Bee Diagnostic Centre, Pollutants to Products ($3.2 million funding with $2.3
million directly from NSERC for further work on Carbon Capture Using Algae), and
the Unmanned Vehicles Systems initiatives at Fairview Campus, just to name a few.
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OPERATIONS
Management of PREDA projects and daily operations.
Results
 Effective internal and external communications
 Appropriate economic information is available to meet the needs of members,
investors and business community
 Organizational capacity is maintained and advanced
REDA
Business Evaluation of Current Practices, Tactics and Tools
Communications
PREDA members participated in a report presentation and training session on
improving its communications with the business community. Recommendations are
being presented into the 2011-2012 Annual Operations Plan.
Supported and provided REDA information to the Alberta Chamber of Commerce
provincial meeting in Fairview.
Welcoming
PREDA’s website www.peacecountrycanada.com has been upgraded and expanded to
Newcomers
include a section on attracting newcomers to the Peace Country. Visit site for final
presentation.
Productivity
PREDA reviewed and updated its logo design and colors to better produce the
‘bridge’ image and also introduced a new tag line as follows:
PREDA’s resource team assisted the City of Grande Prairie to review and develop an
new marketing image and presentation for the City based on the themes of
entrepreneurship and innovation.
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2011-2012 Annual Operations Plan
INITIATIVE 1 Information Sharing on Emerging Economic Development Ideas
ACTION Participate in the planning and sponsorship of at least two (2) economic development
REQUIRED or industry learning events. Tasks include:
1. Executive Committee identifying potential training events.
2. Establish and provide budget & resources for each event.
3. PREDA members participate in the events. Members showcase PREDA’s
interests in and commitments to regional economic development.
4. Members present the event reports to membership including key learning
points and recommendations for future actions.
Each event will be expected to have its own organizing committee to which PREDA is a
sponsoring partner and a potential event steering committee participant.
EXPECTED Output
RESULTS  Final reports for up to two (2) major learning events with accompanying
recommendations on future opportunities. Event marketing material must include
sponsorship recognition for PREDA’s contribution.

Outcome
 PREDA members obtain new insights and knowledge on key industry
developments and trends.
PREDA is shown to be an active partner in learning events which in turn strengthens
cooperation and collaboration with business development stakeholders in the region.
BUDGET $10,000
SCHEDULE The timing for events is scheduled by the respective lead organizations (April 2011
to March 2012).
RISK An event maybe cancelled or having marginal attendance. If this is potentially the
case, it will be addressed by each event planning committee prior to final deadline
dates and commitments.
PERSONNEL
PREDA Executive
INVOLVED
Economic Development Officers in the Peace Country
Event Stakeholders such as
Grande Prairie Chamber of Commerce, Community Futures Grande Prairie,
Community Futures Peace River, GPRC & Northern Lakes College.
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INITIATIVE 2 Pre-feasibility Business Cases
ACTION Identify and facilitate the advancement of new industry ideas and opportunities in the
REQUIRED Peace Country.
PREDA will partner with entrepreneurs and community economic development
groups who have the ability and resources to act on with new industry and
development opportunities. The proposed projects must demonstrate a regional
competitive advantage, local investment potential and value-added and/or leading
edge concepts.
The following projects will continue into the 2011-2012 Annual Operations Plan:
 Penny Cress (Year 3 of 3 Years)
 Carbon Capture GPRC (Phase Three)
 Unmanned Vehicle Systems (Phase Two)
 Peace Oil Sands Buyer-Seller Sessions
 Peace Region Rural Manufacturers Association.
New projects for this year could include interests in Green Industry Development,
Industry Development Opportunities and New Product Development.
Tasks include:
1. Identify potential projects to be considered based on detailed submissions from
clients. Proposals and formal submissions will be vetted through the Centre for
Research & Innovation for comment and to ensure potential partnerships are
explored. The potential for commercialization of the idea/project will be an
important decision consideration in reviewing the submissions.
2. Make decisions on accepted submissions. Assign a PREDA member to participate
on the implementation of the project as a project champion and with reporting
responsibilities to the Board.
3. A final report is required. Report findings and recommendations for future actions
are shared with the membership.
Where appropriate, explore and act on recommendations for future actions that could
lead to new opportunities and investment for the region.
EXPECTED Output
RESULTS  Undertake and complete up to three pre-feasibility business cases reports on new
industry opportunities in partnership with entrepreneurs. Cases may include
recommendations to advance and support its implementation.
Outcome
 Support sustainable growth and prosperity by advancing ideas for new value-
added opportunities and ventures that may lead to commercialization of new
products and/or services, new construction and increased investment in the
region.
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3
BUDGET $175,000
SCHEDULE April 2011 – March 2012
RISK Projects may not prove to be economically viable or market ready. Project plans will
include progress reports on the project’s ‘viability’ to meet deliverables.
PERSONNEL Economic Development Officers & Agencies in the region
INVOLVED Peace Country and Grande Prairie Community Futures organizations
Centre for Research & Innovation
Federal & Provincial departments
OPERATIONS Management of projects and daily operations.
ACTION Range of activities, tools and tasks are require to operate PREDA through the year,
REQUIRED including regional marketing, regional profile distribution, book-keeping,
recordkeeping, website management, liability insurance and others.
PERSONNEL PREDA Executive
INVOLVED Alberta Finance & Enterprise
Community Futures Peace River
BUDGET $80,000
RESULTS  Effective internal and external communications
 Appropriate economic information is available to meet the needs of members,
investors and the regional business community
 Organizational capacity is maintained and advanced
SCHEDULE April 2011 to March 2012
RISK Administrative tasks not completed. Monthly reporting to the Executive Committee
to ensure tasks are completed accordingly.
BUDGET SUMMARY
Initiatives Total Budget PREDA AFE Core AFE One Time Staff Other
Information Sharing and
Emerging Economic $10,000 $10,000
Development Ideas
Pre-feasibility Business
Cases $175,000 $35,000 $60,000 $80,000
Operations $80,000 $15,000 $15,000 $50,000
Total $265,000 $60,000 $75,000 $50,000 $80,000
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Income Statement Summary
2009-2010 2010-2011
PREDA Revenue
Government 650.800.00 404,900.00
Membership 43,788.00 18,512.00
Other 8,200.31 5,065.95
702,788.31 428,477.95
PREDA Expenses
Accounting 7,025.00 7,469.80
Meetings 9,553.27 11,924.20
Operations 6,352.63 4,734.95
Training 6,443.54 960.39
Marketing/Web-site 12,754.55 2,097.08
Web-site Development 32,575.00
Staff 52,996.23
Branding 2,284.26 435
Investment 40,044.42 37,997.08
Cultural Industry Development 6,715.18
Value-added 164,141.43 88,233.31
Unmanned Vehicles 24,905.32
Workforce 40,209.22 1,573.50
Connectivity 685.00 0
Film 12,000.00 0
Dinosaurs 20,210.03 20,000
Productivity Phase One 64,590.91 51,787.31
Productivity Phase Two 81,895.00
Research & Innovation 24,153.55 102.39
Rural Manufacturing PeRMA 60,121.90 123,850.92
439,305.72 550,252.66
Total Revenue 702,788.31 428,477.95
Total Expenses 470,569.71 550,252.66
Net Income 232,218.60 <121,774.71>
Note: 1 Pre-paid Film in 2009/2010
2 2010/2011 Membership $62,300
18
PREDA MEMBERS
Cities, Towns & Villages Member Representative Phone E-mail
Beaverlodge (Town of) Chris King 354-2201 (town office) chris@beaverlodge.ca
Berwyn (Village of) Ron Longtin 618-7647 (cell) rlongtin@wispernet.ca
835-5461 (town office) municipalsecretary@fairview.ca
Fairview (Town of) Larry Chorney
835-2888 (home) fairroc@telus.net
837-2364 (town office) admin@town.falher.ab.ca
Falher (Town of) Jennifer Moore
837-6794 (cell) jmoore@mdsmokyriver.com
Grande Prairie (City of) Justin Munroe 876-1991 (cell) jmunroe@cityofgp.com
332-1176 (home)
Grimshaw (Town of) Dave Allan beyond2000@wispernet.ca
625-2038 (cell)
Hythe (Village of) Christene Livingston 356-3888 (village office) admin@hythe.ca
Nampa (Village of) Klaus Noruschat 322-3772 (village office) cao@nampa.ca
624-8522 (home) ttarpey@prpddmi.com
Peace River (Town of) Tom Tarpey
624-7070 (work) tom21tarpey@gmail.com
chartman@rycroft.ca
Rycroft (Village of) Colleen Hartman 765-2803 (cell)
rycroft@rycroft.ca
Sexsmith (Town of) Isak Skjaveland 568-3868 (home) cagaunt@sexsmith.ca
Spirit River (Town of) Lori Loset 864-3998 (town office) lloset@townofspiritriver.ca
valvadmn@telusplanet.net
Valleyview (Town of) Warren Stewart 524-3178 (home)
spr@telusplanet.net
Counties & MDs Member Representative Phone E-mail
Birch Hills County Marvin Doran 359-0009 (cell) irenec@birchhillscounty.com
County of Grande Prairie Mary Ann Eckstrom 296-4100 (cell) meckstrom@countygp.ab.ca
Clear Hills County Peter Frixel 251-0270 (cell) peter_fr@abnorth.com
MD of Fairview #136 Ray Skrepnek 835-8289 (cell) raymdf@telus.net
957-3601 (home)
MD of Greenview #16 Tom Burton TBurton@aamdc.com
512-1558 (cell)
County of Northern Lights Brent Reese 836-0399 (cell) bgreese@telus.net
332-4807 (home) brightwell2@gmail.com
MD of Peace #135 George Brightwell
618-2299 (cell) mdpeace@wispernet.ca
MD of Smoky River #130 Donald Dumont 323-4387 (home) md130adm@telusplanet.net
512-9628 (cell) berwin@telusplanet.net
MD of Spirit River #133 Elaine Garrow
765-2134 (home) egarrow@mdspiritriver.ab.ca
general@northernsunrise.net
Northern Sunrise County Evens Lavoie 618-5755 (cell)
evens@macay.net
864-0284 (cell)
Saddle Hills County Alvin Hubert admin@saddlehills.ab.ca
353-2214 (home)
Other Member Representative Phone E-mail
Grande Prairie Regional College Susan Bansgrove 539-2867 sbansgrove@gprc.ab.ca
Lac Cardinal Regional Economic Development 332-1169 (office)
Joanne Trudeau joanne@laccardinal.com
Board 618-2162 (cell)
Community Futures Peace Country Randy Hodgkinson 624-1161 (office) randy@cfpeacecountry.com
814-5340 (office)
Community Futures Grande Prairie & Region Holly Sorgen holly@cfofgp.com
518-3586 (cell)
532-5340 (office)
Grande Prairie District Chamber of Commerce Dan Pearcy dan@gpchamber.com
814-1815 (cell)
Peace River Chamber of Commerce Michelle Snyder 624-4166 (office) michelle@peaceriverchamber.com
624-5176 (office)
Northern Lakes College Kevin Delorey delorey@northernlakescollege.ca
(ext. 3705)
PREDA Executive & Management Board
Executive Committee Management Board
Chair: Elaine Garrow Ron Longtin (Central) Colleen Hartman (South) Randy Hodgkinson (North)
Vice Chair: Ray Skrepnek Donald Dumont (Central) Justin Munroe (South) Peter Frixel (North)
Secretary-Treasurer: Mary Ann Eckstrom Jennifer Moore (Central) Lori Loset (South) Evens Lavoie (North)
Directors: Larry Chorney (Central) Mary Ann Eckstrom (South) Tom Tarpey (North)
Ron Longtin; Evens Lavoie George Brightwell (Central) Tom Burton (South) Brent Reese (North)
Tom Tarpey Ray Skrepnek (Central) Elaine Garrow (South) Klaus Noruschat (North)
19
PREDA Partners & Economic Development Office Organizations
Organization Contact(s) Phone E-mail
Agriculture Financial Services Corporation Allan Kuechle 538-5233 allan.kuechle@afsc.ca
Karen Goad 538-5629 karen.goad@gov.ab.ca
Alberta Agriculture & Rural Development Elaine Stenbraaten 835-7531 elaine.stenbraaten@gov.ab.ca
David Wong 538-5289 david.k.wong@agric.gov.ab.ca
Gillian Muhl, Manager (Peace River) 624-6155 gillian.muhl@gov.ab.ca
Alberta Employment and Immigration Joan Goldhawk 538-5469 joan.goldhawk@gov.ab.ca
Rita Caverhill (Peace River) 523-6682 rita.caverhill@gov.ab.ca
Alberta Environment Rod Burr 624-6567 rod.burr@gov.ab.ca
Centre for Research & Innovation Bruce Rutley 296-5808 (cell) brutley@gprc.ab.ca
538-0475
City of Grande Prairie Brian Glavin, EDO bglavin@cityofgp.com
882-4942 (cell)
532-9722
County of Grande Prairie Walter Paszkowski, EDO 228-4990 (cell) edo@countygp.ab.ca
513-3956 (direct line)
County of Northern Lights Eleanor Miclette, EDO 836-3348 (ext. 229) miclettee@countyofnorthernlights.com
Juri N. Agapow, 624-4529
FPInnovations - Feric juri.agapow@fpinnovations.ca
Forest Operations Extension Specialist 618-4700 (cell)
Gary Christopherson, Development 338-2000
Geo - tourism gary@wispernet.ca
Officer 228-3700 (cell)
Brian Brake, Executive Director 567-5580 (ext. 106) bbrake@countygp.ab.ca
GPRC - Dinosaurs aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa 402-1299 aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Paulette Ellison 567-5596 pellison@countygp.ab.ca
Greening the Peace Charles Backman 402-4073 charles_backman@telus.net
Lac Cardinal Regional Economic Development
Joanne Trudeau 618-2162 (cell) joanne@laccardinal.com
Board
Mighty Peace Tourist Association Nicole Halvorson, Executive Director 1-800-215-4535 mpta@telus.net
North Peace Economic Development
Sandra Lemmon, EDO 250-785-5969 npedc@uniserve.com
Commission
Northern Alberta Development Council Dan Dibbelt, Executive Director 624-6274 dan.dibbelt@gov.ab.ca
624-0013
Northern Sunrise County Mat Bergeron, EDO mbergeron@northernsunrise.net
625-1115 (cell)
Northwest Corridor Development Corporation Joni Aylward 567-4991 info@nwcorridor.com
Peace Region Rural Manufactures Association 814-2777 (cell)
Lloyd Sherk, Project Coordinator perrma@telus.net
(PeRRMA) 354-3132 (fax)
Peace River & District Chamber of Commerce Michelle Snyder 624-4166 michelle@peaceriverchamber.com
Peace River Labor Market Amber Armstrong 624-7340 aarmstrong@prpddmi.com
Janet Plante, Peace Region Productivity
Productivity Alberta 876-3518 (cell) janet@bluecollarconsulting.ca
Liaison Officer
Smoky River Regional Economic Development
Jennifer Moore, EDO 837-2364 jmoore@mdsmokyriver.com
Board
Rural Alberta’s Development Fund Kamie Currie 251-0119 Kamie.currie@ruralalbertasfund.com
495-4568
Rural Secretariat Ray Darwent, Regional Advisor ray.darwent@agr.gc.ca
619-7762 (cell)
Town of Peace River Fahim Haque, EDO 624-7685 fhaque@peaceriver.net
539-0685
Website Development Jim Layher jim@slickinternational.com
832-5470 (cell)
Joy Joachim, Regional Economic 532-3009
Western Cree Tribal Council repc@westerncree.ca
Partnership Coordinator 518-9055 (cell)
20
This map highlights member municipalities
of PREDA in Alberta’s Peace Country.
21
Peace Region Economic Development Alliance
Phone: (780) 833-1035
E-mail : preda@peacecountrycanada.com
Web site : www.peacecountrycanada.com